Chartiers Valley School District has appointed a new superintendent with a base salary of $250,000.
The school board Thursday evening voted 6-3 to appoint Dan Castagna, who is currently superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District, as its leader for the next five years. His contract will run from Jan. 1, 2025 to Jan. 1, 2030.
“We’re excited to welcome Dr. Castagna to the Chartiers Valley School District,” said Darren Mariano, school board president. “The board believes Dr. Castagna’s vision and dedication will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission to provide a high-quality education relevant in today and tomorrow’s world while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
“His experience in turning around school districts and fostering educational innovation is exactly what we need to address our district’s challenges and opportunities.”
Joseph Dimperio has been filling in as interim superintendent since June and will remain in that position through the end of the year.
Chartiers Valley had been without a permanent superintendent since February, when Johannah Vanatta was hired as superintendent of the Blackhawk School District.
A statement released by the district said Castagna “brings a wealth of experience in educational leadership, fiscal management and curriculum innovation, making him the ideal candidate to guide the district through its next phase of development.”
“I am honored to be appointed as the Superintendent of Chartiers Valley School District,” Castagna said in the statement. “I look forward to working closely with our talented educators, engaged families, and wonderful students to create a culture of excellence and innovation. Together, we will ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.”
Mariano and board members Herb Ohliger, Louise Huehn, Kate Drury, Ed Brosky and Jeff Choura voted in favor of Castagna’s appointment; Megan Sexton, Lisa Trainor and Mitch Montani were opposed. Trainor did not respond to a request for comment Friday. Montani said he voted against the appointment “for several reasons.”
“My top concern was the manner in which this decision was reached,” Montani said. “I believe that as a public entity, we should be as open, accountable and front-facing as possible. I don’t feel as though that happened here.
“This entire search process, dating back months, has been a total mess. I personally found out about this decision just a few minutes before the public meeting started. I also had serious concerns about the salary implications.”
Castagna’s name was not listed on the public agenda for the special meeting called Thursday.
Some in the community questioned Castagna’s background. Before working at Woodland Hills, he was fired by the West Mifflin Area School District in 2019. Castagna sued, saying at the time the firing was political retaliation, and a federal jury in 2022 agreed with him, ordering the district to pay him nearly $3 million. He was appointed as Woodland Hills’ superintendent in May 2022.
“At the end of the day, Dr. Castagna has been chosen as our district’s next leader,” Montani said. “As a board member, I owe him the chance to lead. His success in this role is our success.”
Sexton said she also voted against for several reasons, “not least of which is the way the entire search process was handled.” She said she was not aware the board was voting on a candidate until a few minutes before the 5 p.m. public meeting. She said the 5 p.m. time “was inconsiderate of our community members” and a very difficult time for families to attend a meeting.
“Also, as many know, our district is currently in financial distress,” she said. “We owe it to our taxpayers to make fiscally responsible decisions, and this is clearly not one. We cannot talk about furloughing teachers and cutting programs while at the same time justify this salary, which is a $45,000 increase from our previous superintendent’s.”
The superintendent search process was not transparent, Sexton said.
“With all of that being said, Dr. Castagna is our new superintendent and he will have my full support in moving our district forward,” Sexton said.
Chartiers Valley’s superintendent search, which included in-person forums and an online survey, garnered responses from more than 500 parents, students, teachers, staff and community members, according to the district’s statement.
The most common responses from that input included a desire for prudent fiscal management, high student achievement, and related strong communication skills. Castagna’s skills and vision aligned with those priorities, the statement said.
In its statement, the district also addressed “several challenges” it has faced recently, including the need for modernizing its curriculum, and managing financial pressures while maintaining standards for student achievement.
The district is “looking to reimagine their curriculum to ensure students are prepared for a rapidly evolving job market,” the statement said.
Castagna will lead efforts at Chartiers Valley to update the district’s curriculum to prepare students for the demands of the AI-driven economy; from expanding STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — programs to integrating AI and data literacy into the classroom, according to the statement.
At West Mifflin, Castagna expanded STEM programs and led the district to recognition for its financial responsibility while strengthening partnerships with local business to improve vocational and technical training, the statement said.
At Woodland Hills, he oversaw the district’s first tax reduction in 41 years and expanded courses in the advanced robotics, music and Advanced Placement classes. Earlier this month, Woodland Hills’ board voted 6-3 to give Castagna a $26,000 raise.
“Fiscally responsible leadership isn’t just about balancing budgets — it’s about making tough decisions that allow us to invest in our students’ futures while providing real relief to our communities,” Castagna said.